Kungseken (The Royal Oak)

The Royal Oak is unique in that it stands as a living reminder of an exceptionally long-term government initiative.

It was planted in 1839 with the aim of securing a supply of oak timber for future warships in the Swedish navy. The oak is unusually tall, straight and sturdy, a result of the deliberate and long-term care to ensure the timber would be suitable for shipbuilding.

The Royal Oak also has great cultural and historical value, demonstrating Sweden’s long-term defence planning at the time. However, once the oaks had finally matured, technology had changed and ships were no longer built of wood. Thus, the Royal Oak came to be symbolic – the result of meticulous human planning that marks an unforeseen turn in the course of history.

Administrator: National Property Board of Sweden